Pets of the Week

Benjietta, an adult female terrier mix, is one of the great canines available this week at the St. Augustine Humane Society, Old Moultrie Road.

Benjietta has cute, shaggy red and white fur. She has a very calm disposition, and she likes laps.

She has sad, soulful brown eyes that make you just melt. She'd love a nice cozy home and lots of attention. She'll give you her unconditional love in return.

Benjietta has tested negative for parvovirus and heartworm disease.

She's had her first worming and vaccinations. Her adoption fee of $46 also covers her spay surgery and her first rabies vaccine. Make her your baby!

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Roger is an adult male shorthaired gray and white cat. He's quite the armful and he has arrestingly beautiful eyes. He's a bit lazy, but likes to play when the mood strikes him. If you'd like a cat to snuggle up with, he's the one for you. Roger wants only the best! Roger has screened negative for feline leukemia and FIV. He's had his first vaccines and worming. His $31 adoption fee also covers the cost of his neuter surgery and his first rabies vaccine. Pull up a couch with Roger today!

Tip of the week: When you walk out your back door and see some of the beautiful wildlife native to Florida, it's often tempting to give these animals a helping hand by putting out treats or other food for them. And it's fun to watch their habits as they snack away. While it's a hard thing to resist sometimes, we really aren't doing our wildlife a favor by feeding them. Much of what we eat isn't a good diet for them. Often they are just like us and if it tastes good, they'll eat it. Unlike us, they don't know junk food can contribute to upset stomachs, adverse reactions and disease.

Many animals become habituated to humans when fed and lose their innate wariness of us. This can cause them a serious problem. Docile animals like marsh rabbits, opossums and armadillos become less shy and are often harmed by cruel humans or domesticated pets. More gregarious animals such as raccoons may become aggressive as they seek to protect this new territory containing culinary delights. They may even "bite the hand that feeds" them.

Alligators often cause serious injury and death to pets and humans when they become habituated to us. Nature provides for her creatures and those best suited will survive (probably better) without us. We should just be content to observe them in their natural environment and enjoy their wild beauty.